Cesarean After Vaginal Birth?

I was chatting with my OB today and asked him about the fact that episiotomies are rarely performed these days, and mentioned that with my first son (16 years ago!) I had a 4th degree and tore everywhere else. He was shocked and asked if we had discussed this. Of course, we hadn't. Regardless, he said that research now indicates that after a 4th degree there is a huge risk of rectal incontinence after subsequent births with equivalent tearing. Thus, he now wants me to schedule a c-section. Has anyone ever experienced or heard of this? I was just so taken aback, I really didn't know what to say. 23 weeks today and he now wants to see us every two weeks for ultrasounds.

Thanks!

Hi All,

I was chatting with my OB today and asked him about the fact that episiotomies are rarely performed these days, and mentioned that with my first son (16 years ago!) I had a 4th degree and tore everywhere else. He was shocked and asked if we had discussed this. Of course, we hadn't. Regardless, he said that research now indicates that after a 4th degree there is a huge risk of rectal incontinence after subsequent births with equivalent tearing. Thus, he now wants me to schedule a c-section. Has anyone ever experienced or heard of this? I was just so taken aback, I really didn't know what to say. 23 weeks today and he now wants to see us every two weeks for ultrasounds.

I had the same thing with my two girls. I crowned fast so they couldn't cut me and I tore both times. I didn't realize they don't do episiotomies anymore. What I do notice is Dr's want to do C sections at the drop of a hat. Personally I think they are done way too much. I'm going to try vaginal with this child and take my chance. They can also massage you so you don't tear. I think a c-section is drastic.

I had the same thing with my two girls. I crowned fast so they couldn't cut me and I tore both times. I didn't realize they don't do episiotomies anymore. What I do notice is Dr's want to do C sections at the drop of a hat. Personally I think they are done way too much. I'm going to try vaginal with this child and take my chance. They can also massage you so you don't tear. I think a c-section is drastic.

4th degree tear is pretty bad. Did you have a colostomy bag? I'd discuss it more with your doc. I'm not a big CS fan and think a lot of docs in the US are quick to do them (I'm in the UK) but I've never seen a woman have a previous 4th degree then vaginal birth. Plenty with a 3rd though. Hth. Xx

4th degree tear is pretty bad. Did you have a colostomy bag? I'd discuss it more with your doc. I'm not a big CS fan and think a lot of docs in the US are quick to do them (I'm in the UK) but I've never seen a woman have a previous 4th degree then vaginal birth. Plenty with a 3rd though. Hth. Xx

Thanks, I intend to talk with him further! No colostomy bag, just sever pain that lasted for several weeks. At the time, I just assumed (and was told by my family) that I simply had low pain tolerance. Evidently it was a bigger deal than I thought.

Thanks, I intend to talk with him further! No colostomy bag, just sever pain that lasted for several weeks. At the time, I just assumed (and was told by my family) that I simply had low pain tolerance. Evidently it was a bigger deal than I thought.

I had the same thing a fourth laceration and tore also my doctor said the same thing to me so this one is a scheduled c section which I'm glad I was in so much pain with my first I remember I couldn't sit down for two weeks after that!!!

I had the same thing a fourth laceration and tore also my doctor said the same thing to me so this one is a scheduled c section which I'm glad I was in so much pain with my first I remember I couldn't sit down for two weeks after that!!!

A fourth degree tear is nasty and very painful. I work in obstetrics and it's one of the worst things that can happen so no, your pain threshold isn't low! A vaginal birth this time could do a lot of damage but it depends on the way you tore, the repair and the recovery. Also how it heals and looks now. Xx

A fourth degree tear is nasty and very painful. I work in obstetrics and it's one of the worst things that can happen so no, your pain threshold isn't low! A vaginal birth this time could do a lot of damage but it depends on the way you tore, the repair and the recovery. Also how it heals and looks now. Xx

I'm not sure if this will help you or not but here ya go! When I was prego wth my son he was stuck in my pelvic bone and after 13.5hrs of pure hell she decided to do emergency c section! Not that bad at all of course I was 22! Then when it came time for my daughter we scheduled another c section I didnt see the need to stress either one of us out that one went well too no compliants! Now fastforward 14 yrs later this lo is goin to born csection!! You ladies that delivery vaginally I have to hand it to you the thought of that to me is scary!!

I'm not sure if this will help you or not but here ya go! When I was prego wth my son he was stuck in my pelvic bone and after 13.5hrs of pure hell she decided to do emergency c section! Not that bad at all of course I was 22! Then when it came time for my daughter we scheduled another c section I didnt see the need to stress either one of us out that one went well too no compliants! Now fastforward 14 yrs later this lo is goin to born csection!! You ladies that delivery vaginally I have to hand it to you the thought of that to me is scary!!

I've had two vaginal births and my last was an emergency c-section, I'm scheduled for a section with this one and I prefer a section over vaginal any day! As long as I took my pain meds on time I was doing good. Your slow moving for a week but it was so much less complicated. It was so nice to be able to go to the bathroom without pain or burning!

I've had two vaginal births and my last was an emergency c-section, I'm scheduled for a section with this one and I prefer a section over vaginal any day! As long as I took my pain meds on time I was doing good. Your slow moving for a week but it was so much less complicated. It was so nice to be able to go to the bathroom without pain or burning!

I have to agree. My first 2 i tried to deliver vaginally . I ended up tearing inside my vagina & having emergency CSECTIONS! The next 2 were planned CSECTIONS . Yes the recovery is different but its not as scary or horrible as people make it out to be. The last one i didnt even need pain meds after. I think because i knew what to expect. I hope that helps a little.

I have to agree. My first 2 i tried to deliver vaginally . I ended up tearing inside my vagina & having emergency CSECTIONS! The next 2 were planned CSECTIONS . Yes the recovery is different but its not as scary or horrible as people make it out to be. The last one i didnt even need pain meds after. I think because i knew what to expect. I hope that helps a little.

I agree completely with you baby1656. My RECOVERY was less complicated. Sorry that must have been unclear. The procedure itself is more invasive but def not as bad as you would expect. There are always cases that something goes wrong (which can happen with ANY procedure from removing an ingrown toenail to heart surgery) but my experience was not that bad at all! Good luck

I agree completely with you baby1656. My RECOVERY was less complicated. Sorry that must have been unclear. The procedure itself is more invasive but def not as bad as you would expect. There are always cases that something goes wrong (which can happen with ANY procedure from removing an ingrown toenail to heart surgery) but my experience was not that bad at all! Good luck

This is a bit late, but I, too, had a 4th degree with my first. Sure, I recovered and I don't have any incontinence issues, but that's not a chance I'm willing to take a second time. So c section it is! I've come to terms with it and I feel good about it. There are ladies who will say it's drastic, but I sure as heck don't want to lose control of my bowels or have major reconstructive surgery like friends of mine have had. No thanks! So I say do what makes you feel the most comfortable. Good luck! :)

This is a bit late, but I, too, had a 4th degree with my first. Sure, I recovered and I don't have any incontinence issues, but that's not a chance I'm willing to take a second time. So c section it is! I've come to terms with it and I feel good about it. There are ladies who will say it's drastic, but I sure as heck don't want to lose control of my bowels or have major reconstructive surgery like friends of mine have had. No thanks! So I say do what makes you feel the most comfortable. Good luck! :)

I have had c-sections with both my kids and will for this one, too. I feel lucky in that I never experienced true labor ... Baby number one I lost the mucus plug at 37 weeks and dr had me go to hospital. I hadn't officially started labor but it was imminent. When they checked the baby he was sideways and trying to turn him would have put him in distress, so I had a c-section. My recovery was a little rough withy first but I blame it more on the fact that I had postpartum depression. I didn't have any complications from the actual surgery. Baby number two was a scheduled c and it went so smoothly! Didn't even need my pain meds after I was home. I admire you ladies who labor for hours and deliver vaginally ... I truly think God knows I couldn't handle it and has blessed me with what I feel is the easy way out! That's my own opinion about my own history ... I know it's different for everyone!

I have had c-sections with both my kids and will for this one, too. I feel lucky in that I never experienced true labor ... Baby number one I lost the mucus plug at 37 weeks and dr had me go to hospital. I hadn't officially started labor but it was imminent. When they checked the baby he was sideways and trying to turn him would have put him in distress, so I had a c-section. My recovery was a little rough withy first but I blame it more on the fact that I had postpartum depression. I didn't have any complications from the actual surgery. Baby number two was a scheduled c and it went so smoothly! Didn't even need my pain meds after I was home. I admire you ladies who labor for hours and deliver vaginally ... I truly think God knows I couldn't handle it and has blessed me with what I feel is the easy way out! That's my own opinion about my own history ... I know it's different for everyone!

My first Was an early er c. My second was 36 hours of labor followed by an er c. Third one they wouldnt even let me try to deliver. Ten years later I'd like to try VBAC. I have a tentative maybe from my doc. However this time there are two of them and since I'm 4'9 1/2" doc says everything will have to be perfectly lined up.

My first Was an early er c. My second was 36 hours of labor followed by an er c. Third one they wouldnt even let me try to deliver. Ten years later I'd like to try VBAC. I have a tentative maybe from my doc. However this time there are two of them and since I'm 4'9 1/2" doc says everything will have to be perfectly lined up.

I so wanted a vaginal delivery the first time around, but my baby was breech and getting him turned around wasn't an option. I was terrified to have a cs, but it was so much worse in my head than it actually was. I'm looking forward to my next delivery as a cs. The procedure was smooth, my scar is hardly noticeable (bikini no problem!) and recovery wasn't bad. People say I missed out...no, I didn't miss a thing!

I so wanted a vaginal delivery the first time around, but my baby was breech and getting him turned around wasn't an option. I was terrified to have a cs, but it was so much worse in my head than it actually was. I'm looking forward to my next delivery as a cs. The procedure was smooth, my scar is hardly noticeable (bikini no problem!) and recovery wasn't bad. People say I missed out...no, I didn't miss a thing!

Please dont put your life and your babies lives at risk too! There is absolutely no way you will be able to deliver twins vaginally! if you couldnt deliver singletons what makes you think twins. If one or both die because of your choice the guilt and sadness will be horrible. Not to mention if something happens to you. What would your other kids do! NOT WORTH IT!

Please dont put your life and your babies lives at risk too! There is absolutely no way you will be able to deliver twins vaginally! if you couldnt deliver singletons what makes you think twins. If one or both die because of your choice the guilt and sadness will be horrible. Not to mention if something happens to you. What would your other kids do! NOT WORTH IT!

Oh I'm pretty sure doctor is just humoring me at this point... I would like to try but because of history and twins and my size I'm almost certain it's a no. OH says h*** no as well. Just part of the experience I wouldn't have minded having

Oh I'm pretty sure doctor is just humoring me at this point... I would like to try but because of history and twins and my size I'm almost certain it's a no. OH says h*** no as well. Just part of the experience I wouldn't have minded having

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